VISAKHAPATNAM: The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) shelter homes provide comprehensive support to numerous individuals in rural areas facing poverty and desperate conditions.
Among the residents are individuals such as 81-year-old Reddulu Jayaram, originally from Nellore, who relocated to Vizag two decades ago. Struggling with advanced age and inability to work, Jayaram found himself a destitute living in the railway quarters area of Vizag.
The police arranged his accommodation at the Bhimnagar GVMC shelter home. Similarly, Pilaka Durga Rao, 62, hailing from Anakapalle and afflicted by paralysis, faced abandonment by his family.
After being discovered by the police during their night field visits at the Visakhapatnam railway station, Rao was admitted to the GVMC Bheemnagar homeless shelter.
Moreover, a significant number of migrant labourers employed at Visakha port are seeking shelter at the railway station due to inadequate accommodation provided by their employers, leading to a plight for individuals with disabilities and the elderly who lack stable housing.
Notably, the TSR Complex’s GVMC shelters currently accommodate eight men and two women - individuals such as Adhikla Murali, Pilli Srinu, and Marepalli Padma, who come from various regions and are in dire need of support and refuge.
The GVMC plays a vital role in addressing the needs of the underprivileged by providing them essential services, including shelter, food, and sanitation facilities. The city hosts eight urban night shelters at Bhimnagar, TSR Complex (separate shelters for men and women), Butchirajupalem, Maharanipeta, Bhupesh Nagar, Peda Waltair, and Arilova.
These shelters collectively accommodate 276 individuals, comprising 225 men and 51 women. These night shelters serve as a critical support system for needy residents, ensuring access to accommodation and meals.
GVMC allocates specific funds for the operation and management of each shelter. In addition to lodging, the shelters are equipped with essential amenities such as sanitation, electricity, water supply, and entertainment facilities, including televisions.
